Government / Politics

Sign for MASS MoCA on brick building.

Old Walls, New Homes

From forgotten buildings to thriving neighborhoods, adaptive reuse has the power to transform our cities.

December 12, 2024 - PlaceShakers

Busy subway station with people walking on platform and train stopped.

Freedom to Move: Investing in Transportation Choices for a Clean, Prosperous, and Just Future

This Union of Concerned Scientists study examines why and how to improve resource-efficient travel options to achieve diverse goals. It estimates that more efficient transport could save up to $201 billion in energy and $128 billion in health costs.

December 9, 2024 - Freedom to Move: Investing in Transportation Choices for a Clean, Prosperous, and Just Future

"Vote Here Today" yard sign in front of brick building.

November Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month

The future of planning in the second Trump administration, housing policy, and highway removal — here are Planetizen’s most popular headlines from November 2024.

December 3, 2024 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up of laptop with real estate listings shown on map.

Cities and States Taking Action to Limit Rent-Setting AI

Federal prosecutors are charging a software company with using algorithms to artificially inflate rents.

December 2, 2024 - CALmatters

Abandoned oil well against hill covered in blooming orange flowers in Carrizo Plain National Monument, California.

Plugging the Gap: Taxpayers Shoulder the Burden of Orphaned Oil and Gas Wells

Taxpayers, federal agencies, and tribal governments are working to address Arizona's orphaned oil and gas wells, which pose environmental and health risks, while advocates call for greater accountability from oil and gas companies.

December 2, 2024 - Cronkite News

CLeveland, Ohio downtown skyline seen from grassy field.

Ohio Invests $58 Million to Revitalize Brownfields and Boost Local Economies

This investment in brownfield remediation will clean up hazardous sites, foster economic development, and create jobs through 61 new projects across 33 counties.

December 2, 2024 - Office of Governor Mike DeWine

Low close-up of busy city crosswalk in Vienna, Austria.

Planning for True Transportation Affordability: Beyond Common Misconceptions

Transportation affordability is important but often misunderstood, resulting in misguided solutions. New research helps identify ways to provide true affordability for economic freedom, opportunity and happiness.

November 21, 2024 - Todd Litman

Playground and picnic benches in city park in San Francisco Bay Area.

Ensuring the Long-Term Care of Parks for Equity and Sustainability

Securing the care and maintenance of parks in the long-term requires sustained funding, equitable resource allocation, and political leadership and will.

November 17, 2024 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

Large roof with solar panels and Los Angeles hills in background.

How Los Angeles County is Advancing Sustainability

A recently released report by the Chief Sustainability Office (CSO) shows that L.A. County is making progress on meeting the goals of the OurCounty Sustainability Plan.

November 13, 2024 - Los Angeles County Chief Sustainability Office

Construction site and cranes in New York City with Empire State Building visible in background.

What Might Federal Housing Policy Look Like in 2025?

Changes to tax incentives, fair housing laws, and housing assistance programs would quickly start impacting local efforts to stem the housing crisis.

November 13, 2024 - Curbed

Roman Forum ruins in Rome, Italy with dusk sky.

Megalopolis: An Urban Planner’s Review

The sprawling film offers a bleak vision of city-building that minimizes the impacts of top-down development on everyday citizens.

November 13, 2024 - Noah Harper

Subway train pulling into elevated outdoor platform in New York City with one passenger waiting.

The News Is Not All Bad

President Trump's election might not be a disaster for local transit.

November 12, 2024 - Michael Lewyn

Close-up of vote-by-mail ballot with pen

Planner’s Guide to 2024 State and Local Ballot Outcomes

Transit and environment came out on top on state and local ballots nationwide, while housing and marijuana initiatives proved less popular with voters.

November 11, 2024 - Mary Hammon

Bears Ears National Monument

Future of Public Lands Looks Litigious Under Trump

Experts say monuments and “unappropriated” federal lands will likely be the target for expanded drilling, mining, and other development under a new Trump administration.

November 11, 2024 - Bloomberg

Two rusty, abandoned oil pumps in rural Texas.

Addressing Orphan Wells for Environmental Justice

Remediating and repurposing some orphan oil and gas wells into parks can turn environmental hazards into community assets, promoting health, environmental justice, and accessible green space for underserved areas.

November 10, 2024 - Progressive City

Commercial street in small rural U.S. town with storefronts and clocktower.

Progressive Planning in Ideologically Conservative Communities

Planners must work in diverse political environments including conservative jurisdictions that are skeptical of new issues and perspectives. Here are ways to reconcile conflicting goals.

November 7, 2024 - Todd Litman

"Vote Here" sandwich board sign with American flag on sidewalk in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Public, Private Transportation Systems Offer Free Election Day Rides

From transit agencies to ride-hailing, bike share, and car rentals, transportation companies are encouraging people to vote by offering free and discounted rides to polling locations.

November 5, 2024 - TechCrunch

Aerial view of historic core of Santa Fe, New Mexico at dusk.

‘Newbie Humility’ Meets the ‘Imported NIMBY’

In a precautionary essay about moving to another place, Chuck Wolfe explains tensions between simple and practical community life and newcomers’ arguably gentrification-laced expectations.

November 3, 2024 - Resurgence: A Journey via Substack

Construction workers in orange vests and white hard hats installing concrete curb.

Rebuilding America's Backbone: A Call for Resilient Infrastructure

How sustainable investments in infrastructure made today can secure the future.

November 3, 2024 - Maria Lehman

Graphic with blue background, flags, and text reading 2024 Presidential Election

Where 2024 Presidential Candidates Stand on 12 Issues Important to Urban Planners

Whether you’re yet undecided or have already cast your early vote, here is a roundup of the key positions of Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump on important urban planning policies.

October 31, 2024 - Mary Hammon

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.